This weekend, NFL players will decide who will replace Gene Upshaw as the next leader of the National Football League Players Association.

Some seven months after Upshaw's death, the NFLPA is expected to finally select a new executive director in a vote scheduled for Sunday.

By Monday morning, the union's fourth leader in its 41-year history will face the daunting task of uniting ranks left divided by what's been called a "corrosive" search process that has the potential to weaken the NFLPA and shift the balance of power fully to NFL owners.

"The guy's got big shoes to fill," NFLPA president and Titans center Kevin Mawae said. "The next executive director is going to determine the course of the NFL over the next several years. ... So whoever that guy is, he's got a bunch of different fronts that he's got to fight."

In the shadow of looming collective bargaining talks threatening to end the NFL's long era of labor peace, amid an economic meltdown strangling the nation, and dealing with revolts from bitter retired players, members of North America's most powerful sports union are traveling to Maui to begin plotting a new course in an uncertain future.

There are four candidates for the 32 player representatives -- one for each team -- to pick from. A simple majority of the representatives in attendance decides the winner.

Two candidates are former NFLPA presidents, Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong. Then there's two attorneys: DeMaurice Smith, an NFL outsider who has no labor law experience but has ties to President Barack Obama; and David Cornwell, who has represented both the union and the NFL.

Browns

New Cleveland coach Eric Mangini continued his makeover of Cleveland's roster by signing free agent linebacker David Bowens and releasing right tackle Kevin Shaffer. Bowens played for Mangini the past two seasons with the Jets.

Redskins

Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was indicted on two misdemeanor traffic charges stemming from a December accident in Tennessee in which another driver was seriously injured. A Williamson County, Tenn., grand jury handed down the indictment on charges of reckless driving and having an expired registration. Reckless driving carries a maximum punishment of six months in jail and a $500 fine, and Haynesworth could receive another 30 days in jail and $50 fine for the other charge.

Dolphins

Miami has signed free agent cornerback Eric Green to a multiyear deal. The Dolphins did not disclose terms of the deal. Green comes to the Dolphins from the Arizona Cardinals, where he has spent his entire, four-season NFL career.

Texans

Houston has re-signed free agent safety Nick Ferguson. The 5-foot-11, 201-pound Ferguson joined the Texans as an unrestricted free agent before the 2008 season after five seasons in Denver. Ferguson had 52 tackles last season in 14 games, nine of them starts.

Vikings

Minnesota coach Brad Childress has hired the son of Indianapolis Colts president and general manager Bill Polian to be his assistant. Dennis Polian will be the new assistant to the head coach.